DX LISTENING DIGEST 5-103, June 23, 2005
Incorporating REVIEW OF INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING
edited by Glenn Hauser, http://www.worldofradio.com
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obligated to do so. Thanks, Glenn
NEXT AIRINGS OF WORLD OF RADIO 1278:
Thu 2030 WOR WWCR 15825
Thu 2300 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2
Fri 0000 WOR WTND-LP 106.3 Macomb IL
Fri 0200 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream [repeated 2-hourly thru 2400]
Fri 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours
Fri 2105 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2
Fri 2300 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55
Sat 0000 WOR ACBRadio Mainstream
Sat 0800 WOR WRN to Eu, Au, NZ, WorldSpace AfriStar, AsiaStar
Sat 0855 WOR WNQM Nashville TN 1300
Sat 1030 WOR WWCR 5070
Sat 1330 WOR WPKN Bridgeport CT 89.5
[also WPKM Montauk LINY 88.7] [at 1000 from July]
Sat 1730 WOR WRN to North America
(including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115)
Sat 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN]
Sun 0230 WOR WWCR 5070
Sun 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB
Sun 0330 WOR WRMI 7385
Sun 0630 WOR WWCR 3210
Sun 0730 WOR World FM, Tawa, Wellington, New Zealand 88.2
Sun 0830 WOR WRN to North America, also WLIO-TV Lima OH SAP
(including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115)
Sun 0830 WOR KSFC Spokane WA 91.9
Sun 0830 WOR WXPR Rhinelander WI 91.7 91.9 100.9
Sun 0830 WOR WDWN Auburn NY 89.1 [unconfirmed]
Sun 0830 WOR KTRU Houston TX 91.7 [occasional]
Sun 1200 WOR WRMI 7385
Sun 1300 WOR KRFP-LP Moscow ID 92.5
Sun 1730 WOR WRMI 7385 [from WRN]
Sun 1730 WOR WRN1 to North America
(including Sirius Satellite Radio channel 115)
Sun 1900 WOR Studio X, Momigno, Italy 1584 87.35 96.55 105.55
Sun 1900 WOR RNI
Mon 0230 WOR WRMI 7385
Mon 0300 WOR WBCQ 9330-CLSB
Mon 0330 WOR WSUI Iowa City IA 910 [Extra 57]
Mon 0415 WOR WBCQ 7415 [time varies, e.g. 0419 May 30]
Mon 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours
Tue 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours
Wed 0930 WOR WWCR 9985
Wed 1600 WOR WBCQ after hours
MORE info including audio links: http://worldofradio.com/radioskd.html
WRN ON DEMAND [from Friday]:
http://new.wrn.org/listeners/stations/station.php?StationID=24
OUR ONDEMAND AUDIO [also for CONTINENT OF MEDIA, MUNDO RADIAL]:
WORLD OF RADIO 1278 (high version):
(stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1278h.ram
(download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1278h.rm
WORLD OF RADIO 1278 (low version):
(stream) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1278.ram
(download) http://www.w4uvh.net/wor1278.rm
(summary) http://www.worldofradio.com/wor1278.html [from Thursday]
WORLD OF RADIO 1278 in true shortwave sound of Alex`s mp3
(stream) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_06-22-05.m3u
(download) http://www.dxprograms.net/worldofradio_06-22-05.mp3
** AFGHANISTAN. BBC MONITORING ASSESSMENT OF NEW TALEBAN WEBSITE
BBC Monitoring has observed a new website operated by the Taleban
Islamic Movement of Afghanistan. The site, which was first observed on
20 June, is called Voice of Jihad (Pashto: Da Jehad Zhagh) and is
located at http://www.alemarah.com/ The website declares that it is
run by the Cultural Commission of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
The site's Arabic page (Sawt al-Jihad) is still under construction.
Homepage
The site's homepage carries a verse from the Kor`an; a photograph of
the aftermath of an attack on "crusader forces" in Kabul; and a brief
note saying that this website of the Taleban Islamic Movement at
http://www.alemarah.com has started its activity, and calling for
readers' contributions to develop the site.
The home page has also links to the following pages:
\ \ Letters and replies
\ News
\ Articles
\ Songs
\ Newspapers
\ Magazines
\ Contacts
\ Films
\ Picture gallery
\ Interviews
\ Poetry and literature
Letters and replies
As of 23 June, this page has just one letter from a reader. The letter
(unsigned, and in poor English) urges the Taleban "please do attack"
US soldiers, but not civilians or the Afghan police.
A brief reply from the website says "our jihad is for the freedom of
Afghanistan".
News
Under the title "News from the trenches of jihad", this page publishes
brief news reports on fighting in various province of Afghanistan. As
of 23 June, the latest news report is about fighting in Mianshin
District of Kandahar Province, dated 22 June 2005.
The page also mentions the name of Mofti Latifollah Hakimi, the well
known spokesman for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
The page also published three satellite phone numbers (0088-216-5559-
0074, 0088-216-2127-2633 and 0088-216-8983-2392) and one mobile phone
number in Afghanistan (0093-7941-9414), presumably those of Hakimi.
It also gives three e-mail addresses: alemarah@alemarah.com;
alemarah1@yahoo.com; and khyber_safia@yahoo.com The page also has a
link to press reviews, but this is still under construction.
Articles
This page has two articles:
1. A letter in Dari addressed to "captive brother" Wakil Ahmad
Motawakkil, the former Taleban foreign minister, who has recently
given interviews expressing regret at some of the Taleban's activities
when it was in power.
2. An article in Pashto on the Taleban Islamic Movement and its
determination to fight Americans and their Afghan allies.
Songs
This page provides the audio of unaccompanied songs in Pashto about
Islam and jihad; and recitation of Pashto poetry about jihad, Islamic
and patriotism.
Newspapers --- This page is under construction.
Magazines
This page shows the front covers of a number of Afghan Islamic
magazines published in Peshawar, Pakistan. There is a link to Tsrek
(alternative spelling Srek - meaning "Trail") magazine, but it does
not work.
Contacts
The following e-mail addresses are listed: alemarah@alemarah.com
alemarah1@yahoo.com
Films
This page provides a link to a video interview with Mawlawi
Moslemdost, who was recently released from detention in Guantanamo
Bay. The link, however, does not work.
Picture gallery
Amongst the pictures shown are those of Afghan and US soldiers, the
scene of a bomb explosion, and US soldiers searching Afghan women.
Interviews --- This page is under construction.
Poetry and literature
This page offers poems in Pashto about jihad and Islam.
Separate site
A separate pro-Taleban website in Pashto is published by the Aadad
Cultural Society at http://www.aadad.com It says the Aadad Cultural
Society is an independent, non-aligned organization aiming to promote
true Islamic culture among young people.
Its news section publishes mainly old reports about Taleban
operations. Among its articles is one entitled "The 150-year history
of American terrorism". It gives the following e-mail addresses:
aadad_2@hotmail.com aadad_2@yahoo.com webmaster@aadad.com Source: BBC
Monitoring research in Pashto and Dari 23 Jun 05 (via DXLD)
** ALGERIA. Of the 3 RTA outlets on LF, viz. Béchar 153 kHz 2 x 1000
kW - Ouargla 198 kHz 2 x 1000 kW - Tipaza 252 kHz 2 x 750 kW, only
RTA-1 Tipaza puts a strong signal, day & night. Signal levels simply
cannot compare: Tipaza being like a local station, particularly if
received in the south (to a point that even the K9AY is unable to
"separate" it from RTÉ 252 at times), Béchar 153 is really bad here,
not that bad in the south, and Ouargla 198 is particularly poor (DX
like!) here underneath the BBC R4, which dominates the channel in the
south too, meaning only a directional antenna can receive RTA 198. So
my question is: does anyone know the actual powers used at both Béchar
& Ouargla? I don't think that, even if being used with directional
antennae, their signals would be so bad (by the way, the audio is also
on the weak side...). (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** ANDAMAN & NICOBAR ISLANDS. USING THE RADIO TO HEAL --- A radio
programme for tsunami victims tries to motivate people to pick
themselves up by the bootstraps, overcome their anxieties and pain,
and take life head-on. --- Rina Mukherji
http://www.thehoot.org/story.asp?storyid=Web202159222205Hoot60216%20PM1644&pn=1
Madhavi was bathing her two year old son when giant tidal waves swept
them both out of their home. As she tried to run away from the foaming
waters, her little son was swept away while she found herself dragged
down into the sand. The fact that all this happened in a minute has so
confused her that she refuses to accept reality, and her current
status of a destitute bereft of all kith and kin.
She still thinks herself to be part of a small and happy family of
three-her husband, her son and she. It is only sometimes that reality
dawns, resulting in her superficial happiness giving way to
uncontrollable sobs.
Bhaswati lost her in-laws, husband and two children when the waves
swept her entire neighbourhood away. She is in such a state of shock
that she hardly utters anything; otherwise, she is shedding copious
tears for hours on end. She is so full of guilt for having failed to
save her family that surviving the tsunami seems a punishment to her.
Helplessness, shock, disbelief, depression, and post-traumatic stress
disorder are some of the various manifestations of mental disorder
common to survivors all over the Andaman and Nicobar islands in the
aftermath of the tsunami.
The tsunami that hit the Islands in December ,2004, swept thousands
away into the oceans. In spite of the dimensions of the disaster, the
isles were spared any epidemic or too many physical illnesses. But
mental disorders have been rife here.
The condition of those who were pregnant is absolutely pitiable.
Pregnant Amita lost her husband, in-laws, nephews and nieces in the
disaster. She was lucky to be thrown back on the shore by the killer
waves to stay alive. Her home gone, her family lost, Amita has lost
the will to survive. She gave up all food in a bid to kill herself and
her unborn child. A lot of persuasion has gone into making her eat
again. " She is now under constant surveillance lest she harm herself
or her child," says gynaecologist Dr Udita Chatterjee.
Then, there are many like Gayatri who survived against heavy odds,
clinging to whatever they could find. The tension and anxiety have so
affected her that her son delivered last month was found to be
affected by cerebral palsy. Two other children were found to be blue
babies-one of whom died soon after. Given the fact that 0.7 per cent
of the total population was pregnant on December 26, when the tsunami
struck, chances are that many babies may be born disabled given the
state the mothers have been in.
Realising the enormity of the problem once they got working in the
camps and teamed up with the National Institute of Mental Health and
Neurological Sciences (NIMHANS) to train volunteers in handling the
mentally ill, the West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA)
thought of the radio to reach out to a wider cross-section of people.
"There were many tsunami victims who did not move to the camps at all.
They continued to stay on near their dilapidated homes in makeshift
shelters. This made it difficult to reach out to them," explains
psychologist Moushumi Kar.
To confound matters, most parts of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands are
just too far from the capital to be reached out easily. Most agencies
even otherwise, found it difficult to cater adequately to the numerous
cases in and around Port Blair, South Andaman and Nicobar. And that
was the genesis of the trauma counselling programme undertaken by All
India Radio (AIR) Port Blair station with WBVHA.
"We wrote to the AIR Port Blair station director, and he responded
heartily to the idea."The programme, in Hindi, titled "Lehren" went on
air in February 2005 and has been on ever since. The popularity of the
45-minute programme can be gauged from the fact that an average of 19
phone-in queries were received daily from the 37 inhabited islands it
was heard on.
The generally twice-weekly programme enlightened listeners on the
signs and symptoms of depression, post traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD), and how stressful situations such as a tsunami or earthquake
involving the loss of loved ones can result in physical, emotional and
behavioural situations that may ultimately result in a breakdown. It
informed listeners on how to identify the early warning signs and
symptoms of mental illness and imparted advice on how to deal with
them. The basic import of the programme was not merely to advise and
guide, but to motivate people to pick themselves up by the bootstraps,
overcome their fears, anxieties and pain, and take life head-on.
People were given tips on stress-busting techniques, alternatives to
focus on and informed about yoga and meditation. The programme proved
so popular, that phone-ins by the following month not only included
queries on mental illness, but information on cases symptomatic of
disorder spotted in camps spread all over the islands. Even now, with
camps having been disbanded and people having moved into temporary
shelters, recorded episodes continue to be broadcast by the station.
In addition to the phone-in programme, AIR Port Blair station has also
been making announcements in Tamil, Bengali, Hindi and Nicobari during
prime time to inform people about where and how psychiatric help could
be sought for affected persons in the vicinity of their respective
homes. What's more, it proved so informative to the uninitiated that
people would ring up "and tell us about certain mentally ill persons
they had seen in certain areas, on the basis of the symptoms we had
talked of," says Moushumi Kar.
Currently, there has been a break in the live recordings, with WBVHA
personnel gearing up for the next phase of the relief and
rehabilitation work. But the popularity ratings of the programme are
so high that older episodes are being broadcast to the audience. It is
just as well, since there are a lot more minds to heal (via Alokesh
Gupta, New Delhi, dx_india via DXLD)
** ANTARCTICA. Entre las 20 y las 21 horas, he intentado escuchar LRA
36 Radio Nacional Arcángel San Gabriel, en 15476 kHz. El canal está
ahora prácticamente libre de interferencias, pero la señal de LRA 36
no llegaba por aquí. Recordar que, según mail de la emisora recibido
en días pasados, están transmitiendo con un transmisor de emergencia,
con menos potencia, por tener el transmisor habitual averiado (Manuel
Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros,
Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** ASIA [non]. A05 Radio Free Asia schedule (updated June 23)
RFA currently broadcasts from 1100 to 0700; there are no transmissions
between 0700 and 1100. Daily programming including Mandarin for 12
hours, Cantonese for two hours, Uyghur for two hours, and Tibetan for
eight hours.
USA RFA schedule in A-05, valid from March 28, til October 30th, 2005.
RFA uses IBB transmitters in IRA/I=Iranawila Sri Lanka, new
KWT/K=Kuwait, SAI/S=Saipan, TIN/T=Tinian N Mariana Islands.
And relays in HBN/P=KHBN Palau Island, IRK=Irkutsk-RUS, TWN/N=Taiwan,
UAE=Al Dhabayya-UAE, VLD/V=Vladivostok-Russia, and WER=Wertachtal
Germany.
Additional transmitter sites have been researched but deleted from
this list upon request of RFA to suppress this info, to avoid pressure
from China upon the host countries. Are we to assume that China has no
way to find out this sensitive info except through DX publications?
[gh]
Some new IBB Kuwait entries have been added. All registered J-05 [high
summer season] frequencies have been deleted. *=new/additional/updated
RFA A-05
0000-0100 LAO 12015I 13830 15545T
0030-0130 BURMESE 11540 13680T 13820I 17835S
0100-0200 UYGHUR 9350 11520 11895UAE 11945UAE
17640T 17695T
0100-0300 TIBETAN *9365K 11695UAE 11975WER 15225T 15695 17730U
0300-0600 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15130T 15685T
17495 17525 17615S 17880S 21690T
0600-0700 MANDARIN 13670T 13760T 15165T 15685T
17495 17525 17615S 17880S
0600-0700 TIBETAN 17510 17720U *17780K 21500T 21690UAE
break
1100-1200 LAO 9355S 9545T 15560I
1100-1200 TIBETAN 7470U 13625T 13830 15510UAE *17855K
1200-1400 TIBETAN 7470U *11590K 13625T 13830
15510UAE 17855S
1230-1330 CAMBODIAN 13645T 15525I 15670
1230-1330 BURMESE 9455I 11540 12030T *13675T *13745T
1400-1500 CANTONESE 9780T 11715S 13790T
1400-1500 VIETNAMESE 7380U 9455S 9635T 11535
11605N 11680I 13685I 13775P
1500-1600 TIBETAN 7470U *11540K 11705T 11795UAE 13825
1500-1600 MANDARIN 7540 9455T 9905P 11765T 12025S
13675T 13725T 15495T
1500-1700 KOREAN 7210IRK 9385S 13625T
1600-1700 UYGHUR 7465 9350I 9370 9555UAE 11750I
11780T
1600-1700 MANDARIN 7540 9455S 9905P 11795T 12025S
13675T 13715T 15530T
1700-1800 MANDARIN 7280T 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T *9670T
9905P 11795T 13625T 13715T
1800-1900 MANDARIN 7280T 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9540T
9865T 11700T 13625T 15510T
1900-2000 MANDARIN 7260T 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9760T
9865T 9905P 11700T 11785T 13625T 15510T
2000-2100 MANDARIN 7260T 7530 7540 9355S 9455S 9850T
9905P *11700T 11740T 11785T 13625T
2100-2200 MANDARIN 7105T 7540 9850T 9910P 9920N
11740T 11935T 13625T
2100-2300 KOREAN 7460U 9385S 9770T 12075T
2200-2300 CANTONESE 9355S 9955P 11785T 13675T
2230-2330 CAMBODIAN 9490I 9930P 13735T
2300-2359 MANDARIN 7540 9910P 11760T 13670T 13775S
15430T 15585T
2300-2359 TIBETAN 7470U *7550K 9395 9805UAE 9875T
2330-0029 VIETNAMESE 9975 11580U 11605N 11670T 12110I
13735S 15535V 15560P
(various sources, wwdxc BC-DX June 23 via DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. Reaching Bolivia`s Quechuas --- The twelve travelers
reached the airport in Cochabamba, Bolivia, suitcases laden with
necessary items along with 600 solar powered fix-tuned Galcom radios.
The Lord enabled Alex Muir and his eleven team members to pass through
customs without any delay but they still had a long trip ahead to
reach the Quechua-speaking Bolivians in the area of San Pedro de Buena
Vista, where the first 300 radios were to be distributed. The other
300 were destined for the lowland jungle area of Shinahota...
(Galcom International http://www.galcom.org/newsletter/june/june.html
via DXLD)
The favored station for fix-tuned and sealed radios to prevent
recipients from trying to retune them to godless secular stations, is
R. Mosoj Chaski, 3310v. See also COLOMBIA (gh, DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. 5952.5, Radio Pio Doce. June 19 at 1105-1130. SINPO 34333.
Talk in vernacular and Bolivian folk songs. ID at 1130, then news
program started (Iwao Nagatani, Japan Premium via DXLD)
** BOLIVIA. 5952.5, Radio Pio XII, Siglo XX, 2224-2310, 22-06. Hacía
casi un año que no escuchaba esta emisora que estuvo inactiva bastante
tiempo. Locutor, español y quechua, comentarios, anuncios comerciales
en español. A partir de las 2305 la señal se deterioró bastante,
volivéndose casi inaudible. Señal débil. 24222.
6025, Radio Illimani, La Paz, 2300-2320, 22-06. Esta emisora se pude
escuchar en España a partir de las 2300 que cierra Radio Budapest en
la misma frecuencia. Locutor, programa sobre medicina, urología, el
cáncer de próstata, la relación médico paciente. 24322 (Manuel Méndez,
Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros,
Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** BRAZIL. 9630, Radio Aparecida, 2117, 22-06, programa "Pe Na
Estrada", programa para camioneros, con entrevistas con estos
trabajadores que van en ruta, canciones, noticias y comentarios. Se
emite entre las 2100 y las 2200. 33333. También en 6135 con peor
señal, 23222 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena
de cable, 10 metros, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo,
DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** CHILE. 15485, Voz Cristiana, 1900, 22-06. Portugués, ya en su nueva
frecuencia, con señal fuerte y sin interferencia, "Noticias da hora,
están sintonizando Voz Crista". 44444 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain,
Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, Escuchas realizadas
en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Pero antes de 1700?
** CHINA. ANALYSIS: NEW MEDIA MOBILIZING CHINA'S MASSES | Text of
editorial analysis by Qiang Zhang of BBC Monitoring on 23 June
Internet-based discussions and the spread of information through new
media are playing an increasingly important role in Chinese politics.
The recent anti-Japanese demonstrations in China showed the growing
power of new media in political mobilization, the founding conference
of Westminster University's China Media Centre heard on 17 June.
In April this year, despite an officially-imposed news blackout on the
protests, organizers used on-line postings, emails and text messages
(SMS) to encourage the public to take to the streets and to inform
people of the marching routes.
Nationalism
The internet played a similar role in popular protests over the 1999
NATO bombing of the Chinese embassy in Belgrade and the 2000 mid-air
collision between a Chinese fighter jet and a US spy plane over the
South China Sea.
Most cases of new media mobilization are nationalistic in nature,
because Chinese internet users, or "netizens", are mostly urban
students and young professionals who are generally cynical about "big
politics" except for nationalism, said Prof Chin-Chuan Lee, a leading
expert on Chinese media at the City University of Hong Kong.
Platform for public debate
But the effect on-line opinion has on domestic issues is by no means
insignificant. In 2003, text messages and internet postings revealed
the full scale of the SARS crisis to the Chinese public, when official
media was muted on the outbreak.
In the same year, fierce on-line condemnations over the death of a
university graduate in a Guangzhou detention centre forced the
government to abolish the decades-old detention and repatriation
system for the homeless and vagrants in cities.
Mei Wu, from the University of Macao, commented: "The Chinese
discussion boards have evolved to be a unique platform for information
dissemination and public debate in global Chinese communities."
But the Chinese government is fighting hard to retain its dominance
over public opinion, and is trying to block any information it sees as
"harmful" from penetrating China's "Great Firewall".
"Extensive" control
China uses technology supplied by Western companies like Cisco,
Nortel, Sun, 3COM and Microsoft to block internet content deemed
subversive or destabilizing, and instructs domestic internet service
providers (ISPs) and internet content providers (ICPs) to filter
sensitive words. The number of such "key words" is said to be between
1,000 and 1,500, the conference was told.
According to a recent report by OpenNet Initiative, a project run by
Harvard Law School, Cambridge University and the University of
Toronto, China has "the most extensive and effective legal and
technological systems for Internet censorship and surveillance in the
world today".
Most websites related to Falun Gong, the Tiananmen Square massacre and
opposition political parties are blocked, according to the report. The
government has also blocked 90 per cent of all Chinese-language sites
which mention "The Nine Commentaries", a critique of the Chinese
Communist Party published late last year by the US-based Chinese
newspaper The Epoch Times. It urges Communist Party members to quit
the party, and says more than 2 million members have already quit
openly on the paper's website.
Official sites and cyber-agents
Although the control is obviously pervasive and powerful, it has never
been possible to exert total control over new media, commented Prof
Lee.
Therefore, apart from filtering unwanted web content, the government
has also launched numerous news websites of its own to establish a
strong on-line presence of official propaganda. Ten per cent of all
websites are set up and run by the government, and central and local
governments are running 150 main news websites across the country.
More proactively, the government has formed a special force of
undercover "on-line commentators" to try to influence public opinion
on the internet, according to a report by Guangzhou-based newspaper
Southern Weekend on 19 May.
These cyber-agents, who receive training and wages from the
government, pose as ordinary netizens in chat rooms and forums to
spread pro-government messages and avert negative discussions. By the
end of 2004, a total of 127 officials from across the country had
received special training in Beijing on how to form and steer public
opinion on the web, the report said.
Political mobilization
In this tightly controlled and monitored environment, how far can new
media go in mobilizing the Chinese people on political issues?
Yan Wu, from Cardiff University, said that if the "politically
activated netizens", particularly those from socially oppressed
groups, continue to explore the potential of internet forums, they may
eventually "reshape the civil society and the political culture in the
mainland".
But, she said, a huge proportion of Chinese citizens are still
excluded from participation in electronic public discussions. Prof Lee
also had doubts on the long-term effect of new media on China's
political situation. "Information may spark a fire that activate pent-
up frustration in a movement, but it requires an organization to
sustain the movement," he said. Source: BBC Monitoring research 23 Jun
05 (via DXLD)
** COLOMBIA. New Dual Band SW Radio --- Do you believe in miracles?
The Lord has enabled us to develop a dual band Short Wave radio. There
is a particular need for these radios in Colombia in conjunction with
the ministry of Russell Stendal, ``Colombia Para Cristo``. Actually,
he has requested 100,000 of them! A million men are involved in
military action in four opposing forces in this country. One radio
broadcasting the Good News for every ten men could transform this
nation. As this letter goes to press, the circuit board design is
being thoroughly scanned in preparation for printing. Production
should begin within the next few weeks. At $20.00 U.S. per radio, this
is a huge task. Please pray with us that we will be able to assist in
flooding this country with the Gospel (Galcom International
http://www.galcom.org/newsletter/june/june.html via DXLD)
Two band, maybe, but only two frequencies, I assume, as Galcom is into
fix-tuned radios like the North Koreans. O, this is confirmed in their
Prayer Bulletin for June; oops, too late now:
``Fri. 17th: Praise God that we have been able to develop a dual
frequency Short Wave radio for use in Colombia. Pray that these will
be used to bring many to Christ.``
I guess the two frequencies are Stendal`s 5910 and 6010 --- which are
in the same band. Hmmm, from following, they may need radios tuned to
more frequencies. See also BOLIVIA (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** COLOMBIA. Quito 23/6 2005 *** Thursday edition: *** Recording of
5809.82 La Voz de tu Conciencia, Puerto Lleras
This must be something for "Guinness Record Book": some days ago I was
listening to two radio stations at the same time but it´s not anything
interesting for "Guinness" but.......: I was listening to these two
stations on 5 harmonics/spurs at the same time + the two stations`
fundamental channels. Comments, photos and recordings at:
http://www.malm-ecuador.com 73s (Björn Malm, Quito, Ecuador, DX
LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.:
Fundamental channels:
5909.07 Marfil Estéreo, Puerto Lleras
6010.12 La Voz de tu Conciencia, Puerto Lleras
Mixing products (both stations on each frequency):
5709.26, 5809.82, 6110.29, 6210.43 and 6310.58 kHz.
(from http://www.malm-ecuador.com via DXLD)
** CUBA [non]. FUNDING ROW THREATENS TV AND RADIO MARTÍ AIRBORNE
BROADCASTS
A report in the Miami Herald says that a yearlong delay in the
purchase of an airplane to broadcast TV and Radio Martí's signals to
Cuba has stoked concern on Capitol Hill that the C-130 currently being
used may be reassigned to Iraq.
Two government departments in Washington disagree about who's going to
pay the $10 million to buy a replacement for the the C-130 turboprop
currently used, known as Commando Solo. The Defense Department would
be responsible for purchasing and operating the aircraft, but the
State Department has funded the Martí broadcasts for more than a
decade.
The purchase and equipping of a new plane specifically dedicated to
Cuba broadcasts was part of a long list of initiatives against Cuba
launched by the White House last year, but because of the internal
disagreement between government departments the administration has yet
to purchase the plane.
The Miami Herald says that in letters to Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and President Bush,
Miami Republican Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen refers to "grave
concerns about reports that the C-130 Commando Solo airborne platform
transmission currently dedicated to Cuba-related activities may be
reassigned."
# posted by Andy @ 09:40 UT June 23 (Media Network blog via DXLD)
Viz.:
Of course, we all know that it is impossible for a transmission to
originate from an airborne platform circling over Florida waters,
but...
PLANE ISSUES IMPERIL MARTÍ BROADCASTS Posted on Thu, Jun. 23, 2005
Delays in getting a new airplane to broadcast TV and Radio Martí's
signals to Cuba has raised concerns among opponents of leader Fidel
Castro and on Capitol Hill. BY NANCY SAN MARTIN
WASHINGTON - A yearlong delay in the purchase of an airplane to
broadcast TV and Radio Martí's signals to Cuba has stoked concern on
Capitol Hill that the C-130 currently being used may be reassigned to
Iraq. . . Available at (free subscribe registration):
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/world/americas/11961736.htm
(via Terry Krueger, FL, DXLD)
EL AVIÓN DE TV MARTÍ ENFRENTA A RICE Y RUMSFELD
RUI FERREIRA, El Nuevo Herald, Posted on Wed, Jun. 22, 2005
TOMADO DE LA EDICION ELECTRONICA "EL NUEVO HERALD"
http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/11951509.htm
A los más altos niveles de Washington, D.C., una discreta pugna se
viene desarrollando por el avión C-130 de TV Martí, que trasmite
semanalmente programación hacia Cuba.
El secretario de Defensa, Donald Rumsfeld, a cuya oficina pertenece el
aparato, lo quiere de vuelta en las operaciones en Irak y Afganistán,
mientras que la secretaria de Estado, Condoleezza Rice, se ha opuesto
firmemente y ha cabildeado con la Casa Blanca al respecto.
El aparato comenzó a volar en agosto del año pasado, pero diplomáticos
estadounidenses admitieron a El Nuevo Herald que el régimen de la isla
ha tenido cierto éxito en interferir las transmisiones, porque éstas
se siguen haciendo en las frecuencias habituales.
Esta semana, al tanto de la polémica y preocupada por su posible
desenlace, la congresista Ileana Ros-Lehtinen escribió sendas cartas
al presidente George W. Bush y a la secretaria Rice, a las cuales El
Nuevo Herald tuvo acceso.
''Lo felicito por sus esfuerzos'' antiterroristas, pero ''le escribo
en este contexto para manifestarle mi preocupación por informaciones
según las cuales el Departamento de Defensa quiere dar otro destino al
[avión] C-130 Commando Solo que está actualmente dedicado a
actividades relacionadas con Cuba'', escribió la congresista en la
carta a Bush.
''No podemos ni debemos olvidar la amenaza que representa la dictadura
de [Fidel] Castro en nuestro espacio de influencia'', por lo cual el
avión ''es un instrumento crítico en la implementación de esta agenda
[...] y en nuestros esfuerzos para precipitar el final del régimen
castrista y llevar una transición hacia la democracia a la isla'',
manifestó Ros-Lehtinen.
En la carta a Rice, la representante republicana recordó cómo semanas
después de los atentados terroristas de septiembre del 2001, fue
arrestada la analista del Pentágono Ana Belén Montes por espiar para
Cuba, precisamente porque sus informes ``podían ser enviados a quienes
se encuentran enfrascados en actividades terroristas contra Estados
Unidos''.
Según fuentes del Capitolio, la pugna de Rice y Rumsfeld tiene como
base un punto de vista diferente en cuanto a cómo lidiar con el
régimen de La Habana. Si bien la secretaria de Estado es conocida por
sus duras criticas al régimen cubano, el secretario de Defensa ha sido
muy parco en ese aspecto.
''Si miramos las cosas en su justa perspectiva, hasta hoy el Pentágono
no ha dado marcha atrás en el informe militar sobre la amenaza cubana.
A lo mejor no ha habido cambio de posición o no han querido cambiar de
posición'', dijo una de las fuentes a El Nuevo Herald.
En 1998, el Pentágono publicó un informe en el cual sostuvo que el
régimen de la isla no representa una amenaza militar para Estados
Unidos. El informe ha sido fuertemente cuestionado por analistas y
cubanos exiliados, particularmente tras la revelación de que Belén
Montes participó en su confección y pudo haber influido en sus
conclusiones.
Pero en una rápida consulta a las pocas declaraciones de Rumsfeld
sobre Cuba, se constata que desde que llegó al Pentágono no ha
exteriorizado una preocupación particular sobre una posible amenaza
militar cubana.
En una entrevista con la cadena Univisión en febrero del año pasado,
Rumsfeld dijo abiertamente que el conflicto con la isla debe ser
tratado diplomáticamente.
''Eso es algo que se está manejando por canales diplomáticos. Sé que a
lo largo de diversas administraciones el gobierno ha estudiado
diversas políticas que indican nuestra posición'', pero ``también creo
que hay cosas que son diferentes en situaciones diferentes''.
En abril del 2003, cuando le preguntaron directamente si abogaba por
una invasión a Cuba, el secretario de Defensa dijo: ``No podemos
intentar que todos en este mundo vivan igual que nosotros''.
''En un mundo complicado hay países que viven de forma diferente, y
por lo tanto no es un asunto para Estados Unidos tratar que los demás
sean como nosotros'', añadió.
Y en una fecha tan reciente como el pasado 5 de mayo, cuando en la
conferencia anual del Consejo de las Américas, en la capital
estadounidense, alguien se interesó por su opinión sobre la situación
en Cuba, Rumsfeld no dejó margen para dudas con una respuesta evasiva.
''Bueno, usted sabe, miramos a nuestro alrededor en todo el mundo y
vemos que hay cubanos por doquier, en este país, en muchos países. Y
son inteligentes, trabajadores y activos. Y yo me acuerdo cuando
Castro llegó [al poder], y apuesto a que usted también se va a acordar
cuando él se vaya'', dijo el secretario de Defensa (via Oscar de
Céspedes (Miami, FL), condiglist via DXLD)
** ECUADOR. See PAPUA NEW GUINEA
** ETHIOPIA. 9704.2 kHz, R. Ethiopia, Gedja Jewe (cf. my earlier
report dated 21 JUN re an 18 JUN observation) nicely audible again
today, 23 June 1015-1100* in Vernacular till 1029, then announcements
and IS before start of their 30-min. English program of news and
music, mainly western, 1030-1100, after which the station does sign
off: at 1030, they announce the 31, 41 & 49 m bands + 594, 684, 828,
855, 873 & 972 kHz, then at the end the address is given and the
station announces the 07 PM local or 1500 UT broadcast on 31 & 41 m +
989 kHz, i.e still no frequency details on the metre bands; the
transmitter goes off right after the national anthem is aired. Rated
45433 (peaking S9+20 dB on occasions) today but with some het. being
detected (and easily erased too) say a quarter of an hour prior to
1100 - possibly caused by the listed Xinjiang PBS in Urumqi, China,
for Kyrgyz, but this time I could not extend the observation so as to
try to properly ID this one. In all, reception here in Lisboa via a 20
m T2FD aerial was really better than during same period last Sunday at
the almost noise-free SW coast site. I really must build a T2FD there
too! (Carlos Gonçalves, Portugal, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** FRANCE. RFI : RAPPORT SUR LES RÉDACTIONS EN LANGUES ÉTRANGÈRES
Le rapport interne commandé sur les rédactions en langues étrangères
de RFI par le PDG Antoine Schwarz a été remis fin avril. Selon
certaines informations, ses conclusions, rédigées par l'ancien
Directeur Général de RFI, Fouad Benhalla, en tant qu'"expert
indépendant", relèvent que "les rédactions en langues étrangères de
RFI ont été laissées à l'abandon depuis quelques années: aucune ligne
éditoriale, aucune perspective, aucun suivi.
Résultat, estime Fouad Benhalla, une frustration des personnels qui se
sentent abandonnés, méprisés par leurs collègues du service mondial en
français et laissés pour compte par la direction qui les considère, de
leur point de vue, comme des journalistes de second ordre".
Fouad Benhalla écrit que "les émissions en langues européennes, à
l'exception du russe [...] ont perdu la raison d'être qui avait, en
leur temps, justifié leur création". Ses conclusions préconisent en
outre une "réorganisation du service allemand et du service polonais".
Elles prônent aussi la rationalisation de la délocalisation du service
roumain, et le renforcement des émissions chinoises et indochinoises
"avec une interrogation sur le maintien du laotien" dès lors qu'il
serait diffusé sur une seule fréquence en ondes courtes. Elles
évoquent par ailleurs un "réexamen approfondi" des programmes vers
l'Amérique latine. Fouad Benhalla estime qu'"il y a lieu de consolider
les langues destinées aux zones géographiques sensibles pour la
diplomatie française".
Ces conclusions, qui auraient été déjà transmises aux autorités de
tutelle de RFI (ministères des Affaires étrangères, du Budget et de la
Culture et de la Communication) ont été présentées début mai aux
représentants du personnel. Les membres du comité d'entreprise les ont
qualifiées de "texte subjectif, sans légitimité". Ils ont demandé à ce
qu'elles soient dissociées du reste du rapport, rédigé par deux
journalistes de RFI, et qui semble avoir reçu un meilleur accueil.
Ces deux journalistes relèvent, comme Fouad Benhalla, une différence
de traitement entre la rédaction en français et celles en langues
étrangères. Elles font ainsi part de leur "sentiment persistant, au
terme de ces quelques mois passés à parcourir les rédactions en
langues et à analyser leurs émissions, qu'elles sont le parent pauvre
de RFI par rapport à l'information en français. Elles se sentent
délaissées".
Les deux rapporteuses relèvent notamment la disparité des budgets :
"900 000 € de missions pour RFI en français contre à peine 200 000 €
pour les langues." Mais leurs conclusions sont axées sur la nécessité
de valoriser et coordonner le travail des rédactions en langues
étrangères. "Il semble prioritaire de valoriser le potentiel humain et
professionnel que constituent les rédactions en langues étrangères,
d'adapter leur production et leur organisation aux nécessités du monde
d'aujourd'hui, aux attentes changeantes de leur auditoire et aux
technologies nouvelles".
Elles prônent "une définition précise et la coordination permanente du
contenu éditorial en français et dans les autres langues". Et de
conclure: "Pour réussir sa modernisation, RFI doit adapter aussi bien
ses rédactions en langues qu'en français, avec un maître-mot entre
elles: la solidarité. " (Satellifax - 23 mai 2005) (informations
issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via DXLD)
Summary: foreign-language sections at RFI are very much treated as
second-class; funding is 2/9 of the amount for French language. No VOA
here, where the national language is treated as second-class, gh
remarx (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GERMANY. Recently I decided spontaneously after a business meeting
at Leipzig to take the next train to Magdeburg and from there the next
local service to Burg. I found no time to set up a new homepage so
far, so I uploaded some pictures on free webspace (not the best server
performance, but usually it works):
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/9100/burg1site7dy.jpg
- Transmitter site as seen from the town of Burg. The small white
(rather grey) towers carry the 1575 kHz vertical incidence antenna.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2252/burg1entr6tp.jpg
- Entrance area, in the background two pipe masts originally designed
for MW, but after the crash of the 350 metres tall LW mast in 1976 one
of them had been modified for LW usage.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/818/burg1screen3jn.jpg
- Building near the station entrance. Note the shielding against the
RF.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/7756/burg1txold2yw.jpg
- Old transmitter building (2 x 250 kW MW Funkwerk Köpenick and 200 kW
LW Tesla)
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5038/burg1tx1000kw6ec.jpg
- New transmitter building for the 1000 kW Komintern transmitter
inaugurated in 1979, seen from the eastern side of the station
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/322/burg1tx1000wide7li.jpg
- Same view with wide focus (and less exposure for obvious reasons)
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/1333/burg1tx1000left6cb.jpg
- New and old transmitter buildings (and hammock in the background)
from a slightly different location
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2369/burg1fence0yw.jpg
- Small stretch of the fencing west of the station entrance, still
fully equipped with Polish mercury vapor lanterns
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/6323/burg1ligth6ln.jpg
- This detail of the guards tower is a real rarity. Yes, I refer to
the lantern with two U-shaped 40 watts fluorescence lamps. These were
made in the sixties I think, and I knew only smashed remains of such
fixtures so far. They were more common with only a single lamp, I
still recall a whole village being lit with such lanterns (nice!), but
this was 20 years ago.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5447/burg261ant4na.jpg
- 324 metres mast. Actual antenna wires not visible at all in this
picture!
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/1876/burg261harm1390mf.jpg
- The only transmission going out from Burg at present. Of course it's
on 139 kHz, but so close to the antenna it can be also received with
an ATS 909 by means of this dirty trick. This is a remote control
signal, allegedly also controlling street lights at Berlin. I noted
FSK data bursts of about one second duration with some 12 seconds of
open carrier in between, so obviously there is still plenty of idle
data capacity on this system.
http://img297.echo.cx/img297/7332/burg261se2fh.jpg
- Containers with the two 50 kW longwave transmitters (broadcast 261
kHz, utility 139 kHz) and apparently also the 500 kW mediumwave rig.
Note also the antenna wires, visible in this close-up. One has to perk
through an aisle to see all of this. The place must have been
considerably overgrown during the last decade, I think it was just a
meadow back in 1993 or 1994 and the view from the fence to the mast
unobstructed at that time (so sorry, but I had no camera with me then,
so I have no pictures of the original ARRT cage mounted on this mast).
http://img297.echo.cx/img297/5163/burg261sw2kk.jpg
- Looking through another aisle ...
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/9955/burg261n4eg.jpg
- ... and the same from the opposite side, i.e. from the north
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2337/burg261nw3io.jpg
- ... and from a slightly different location. Note the typical GDR
lanterns and the now abandoned search light.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/3605/burg261asfound4yc.jpg
- Another motif on the northern side of the station ...
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/9648/burg1anchor0ws.jpg
- Abandoned anchor of the 324 metres mast. Several ones can be found,
so apparently the guys architecture of the mast has been modified
against the original ARRT configuration.
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5536/burg1575det4iz.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/7317/burg1575feed2uz.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/4048/burg1575wires0zh.jpg
- Details of the 1575 kHz vertical incidence antenna
http://img297.echo.cx/img297/9772/burg531dfa8bi.jpg
- Triangular hammock system, in the new days apparently used for 531
(low power DRM tests) and 10 kW daytime operation on 1575
http://img297.echo.cx/img297/3297/burg531bldg8aj.jpg
- Transmitter building with outcoming feeder underneath the hammock
system
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/1741/burg1pipes5wm.jpg
- A closer look at the pipe masts. No idea why one of them ...
And there are not just the transmission facilities at Burg ...
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/4709/burg014ml.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2478/burg023ks.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/5716/burg038dp.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/4030/burg046dw.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/2087/burg057bf.jpg
http://img159.echo.cx/img159/8118/burg061wd.jpg
Sightseeing had to be done in some hurry, since I had to get to Berlin
in time. There I left the train at the infamous Friedrichstraße
station to look after the location of the old Friedrichstadtpalast
where Louis Armstrong gave in 1965 a famous concert (cf.
http://www.townsend-records.co.uk/product.php?pId=1039051&pType=music
--- also a high quality VTR of this event survived, noteworthy because
until the late sixties only poor telecines were kept as archive copies
of almost all GDR TV programming because the tape rolls were way too
expensive), only to find that it is now, twenty years after the
demolition of this building (closed at short notice in 1980 when this
beast had been found dilapidated --- see a picture of it at
http://perso.univ-lyon2.fr/~poitou/Photos_Berlin/aaPhotos/617206.jpg -
--), still just a park. Took the S-Bahn to Ostbahnhof and got an ice
cream there since I had no time for this earlier. Then enjoyed a ride
to Schönefeld because the coach allowed to stand on the open window.
Finally got at 10 PM the local train from Schönefeld to Elsterwerda,
unfortunately with air-conditioned coaches now, somewhat spoiling the
special feeling of a ride into the night aboard this only train being
on its way over 100 km of main line while a whole 50 to 16 2/3 Hz
converter station is running only to power this single locomotive (Kai
Ludwig, June 22, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** GUATEMALA. 4052.5, Radio Verdad, 0441-0602, 23-07. Esta emisora se
escucha siempre en horas del amanecer, aquí en España, con señal
aceptable. Parece increible que transmita con solo 0.7 kW. de potencia
??? y que llegue tan bién. Ademas es una de las pocas emisoras
latinoamericanas que tiene un trato muy bueno con los oyentes,
confirmando los informes con tarjeta, carta del director, folletos y
banderín. Locutor, comentarios, canciones religiosas en español. A las
0500, programa en inglés, identificación: "Radio Verdad, P. O. Box 5,
Chiquimula, Guatemala, Central America", comentarios y canciones. A
las 0601, despedida en español, y cierre. 24322 variando a 34333
(Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10
metros, Escuchas realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** INTERNATIONAL VACUUM. Re 5-102, under USA about the Moon`s
appearance. I then checked
http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/pacalc.html
and find that the current perigee is not extraordinary; will be a bit
closer around the full Moon of July. So what is this confusing story
really about? (Glenn Hauser, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** LIBERIA. 5470, Radio Veritas, 2037-2203, 22-06, inglés, hasta las
2100 "VoA news". A las 2100 identificación: "Radio Veritas, Monrovia".
Noticias de Africa. A las 2200, identificación: "This is the Voice of
Trust, Radio Veritas". 24322 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, Spain, Grundig
Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, Escuchas realizadas en
Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Veritas means truth, not
trust, or so they think at Harvard (gh, DXLD)
** NORTH AMERICA. The Crystal Ship Posted at 19:39 on May 22, 2005 in
hf and pirates. Sunday, May 22, 2005, 2237, 6854. The Crystal Ship
signing on with the Doors and "..the high and the mighty will be
overthrown....the time has come so follow us and we will take you
there." Opened with Pink Floyd, from The Wall. Great signal and sound.
455 here in Maryland.
The Crystal Ship Posted at 22:02 on May 28, 2005 in hf and pirates.
Sunday, May 29, 2005, 0202, 6854. Nice music from Rush coming in here.
ID at 0214, and into Dylan. Peter, Paul and Mary at 0223. Ramones at
0226. Off with "this is a very bad habit" at 0229. Overall signal 434,
very nice and strong audio, with some thunderstorm crashes.
The Crystal Ship Posted at 21:27 on Jun 5, 2005 in hf and pirates.
Monday, June 6, 2005, 6854. The Crystal Ship is coming in fine on 6854
here. "War, what is it good for, absolutely nothin".. barely there but
perceptible on // 7545. ID at 0128. Signal 333 on 6854.
The Crystal Ship invades CHU Posted at 10:21 on Jun 13, 2005 in hf and
pirates. Monday, June 13, 2005, around 0100-0200, 6854 // 7335. The
Crystal Ship with a strong signal on 6854, with a lesser but still
listenable signal on CHU's 7335 (CHU, the Canadian time station, has
been offline for several days now). The Poet played some pirate music,
yo ho ho yarrrr matie, and Blue Öyster Cult's Don't Fear The Reaper,
and other rock music (Larry Will, MD, RFMA via DXLD)
** PAPUA NEW GUINEA. Hi Glenn, Here is a letter I sent to Allen
Graham; don't know if you heard DXPL last week. I don't know if Allen
will read it on air, or respond at all, but, you are free to quote
and/or publish this letter wherever you like. If asked, I will say,
yes, I have an agenda, a liberal agenda, and I'm not ashamed to let it
show (Tim Hendel, Huntsville AL, June 23, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Viz.:
Dear Allen, I enjoyed the interview which Eric Scatterbaugh (name
maybe not spelled right) with David Olson of Wantok Radio. It is clear
that David cares and is interested in DX-ers and SW listeners. This is
a very good thing.
However, I feel that there are some real moral and ethical issues
presented by the establishment of this station, issues which I, as a
non-Christian, feel are of concern. Perhaps another interview with
David, or your own comments on the program, would be valuable.
I have spent a little bit of time working in what are sometimes called
"third world" or "developing" countries. When an American group comes
in, with all its technology, all its money, and all its perceived
power, such a group sometimes has undue influence, influence which it
does not deserve. This is my concern in the case of Wantok Radio.
Is Wantok Radio really a product of local PNG interests, or is it a
cultural invasion by a group of North Americans, who may be well-
intentioned, but who may nevertheless be indulging in a form of
cultural imperialism.
I am particularly disturbed by the North American content of the
programming on Wantok Radio, at least those programs which Mr. Olson
mentioned --- Back to the Bible and Focus on the Family.
Surely you, Allen, are aware of the extreme right-wing political
position of James Dobson and Focus on the Family, and their
unconditional and partisan support for the Bush Regime. On issues such
as gay rights, Dobson has taken a very political and very conservative
position. Recently, Focus on the Family even jumped into the fray
regarding religious tolerance at the Air Force Academy in Colorado
Springs. Is this proper or ethical programming to be forcing on the
listeners of a country who may not have many alternatives if they wish
to listen to religious programming?
I have been a listener to HCJB since the late 1950's. Although I am
not a Christian, I have been impressed by the sincerity and dedication
of the people at HCJB, as well as how you there in Ecuador separate
your religious beliefs from politics, especially USA politics. Is
Wantok Radio doing the same? Should they? I think this issue is
important.
PS: Allen, a few months ago I wrote you regarding the two local
languages presented on HCJB, 6050, between 1030 and 1130 UT. Did you
receive that correspondence? I think a feature on these programs would
be very worthwhile. If my e-mail got lost, please let me know.
Sincerely, (Tim Hendel, Huntsville, Alabama, to HCJB, cc to DX
LISTENING DIGEST)
** PARAGUAY. 9737, R. Nacional del Paraguay June 20 2127-2158 (fade
out) 32222. Talk and music in Spanish (Kyoshiro Ishizaki, Japan, Japan
Premium via DXLD)
9736.9, Radio Nacional de Paraguay, 2202, 22-06, locutor y locutora,
entrevista con Mirian Segovia, Viceministra de Comercio de Paraguay.
Identificación: "Radio Nacional del Paraguay, 920 amplitud modulada,
con el país y el mundo, más allá de la información". Anuncian una
página web de la emisora: http://www.rnpy.com (Manuel Méndez, Lugo,
Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, Escuchas
realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
La página web de Radio Nacional de Paraguay que anuncian por onda
corta, http://www.rnpy.com funciona, y en ella se puede ver la
historia de la emisora, programación, música paraguaya, etc, y también
aparece una dirección de correo electrónico para escribirles: info @
radionpy.com.com (Manuel Méndez, Lugo, España, June 23, DX LISTENING
DIGEST)
** SCOTLAND [non]. This Saturday morning (June 25th) we'll be
broadcasting an extra hour from 0600 to 0800 GMT and using both 15725
kHz (from Milan[?]) and 9290 (from Ulbroka [LATVIA]) for the
transmission. 15725 will be running at 50 kW (it's been on 20 kW on
previous Saturdays) so we're keen to know how the signals from the two
transmitters compare. Regards (TONY CURRIE, Programme Director, Radio
six international, http://www.radiosix.com 6/23, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** SLOVAKIA. La grave situation financière dans laquelle se trouve la
Radio slovaque suite au rejet par les députés du projet de loi sur les
redevances audiovisuelles n´aura pas de conséquences sur la diffusion
des programmes. "Malgré notre situation difficile, nous n´allons pas
réduire nos programmes. Nous essaierons de travailler normalement
pendant encore au moins 6 mois, voire un an", a déclaré ce jour
Jaroslav Reznik, directeur de la Radio slovaque. Selon lui, réduire
les programmes ou fermer certains département de la Radio serait très
préjudiciable au dévelopement culturel du pays. Et de répéter que la
Radio pourrait fonctionner sans aide de l´Etat si le projet de loi
était voté. C´est la raison pour laquelle il sera de nouveau présenté
au parlement cette année. (Radio Slovaquie Internationale - 02 juin
2005) (informations issues de http://perso.wanadoo.fr/jm.aubier via
DXLD)
** SOLOMON ISLANDS. 5019.9, SIBC, 1055-1106, June 23 --- I got a break
when Cuba went off the air for a few minutes this morning and had nice
splatter-free reception. Signal strength was good but with rapid
fading. Heard a couple of light pop songs, then news at the top of the
hour read by female. Top story was concern over the Solomon Island
vote change at the whaling commission meeting in South Korea. Cuba
back on at 1106 (David Hodgson, TN, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** THAILAND. ANALYSIS: THAI TUG OF WAR OVER RADIO AIRWAVES | Text of
editorial analysis by Steve Metcalf of BBC Monitoring Media Services
on 23 June
Thailand's fast-growing community radio sector is facing a possible
showdown with the authorities. Although some broadcasters claim to see
political motives behind this, the government says it is acting
because of public safety concerns.
Broadcasting regulations state that community stations should limit
their transmission power to 30 watts, the height of their antenna to
30 metres, and transmission range to 15 kilometres. The authorities
say that stations that ignore the regulations are interfering with
mainstream broadcasters and with civilian and military air traffic
communications.
A deadline for broadcasters to comply with the regulations has twice
been extended. However, two stations were raided by police on 17 June:
one was charged with excessive transmission power, the other with
disrupting aviation signals.
The government's Public Relations Department (PRD) was reported by the
Bangkok Post on 6 June as saying that at least 41 stations in Bangkok
faced closure if they failed to comply.
Ten-fold increase
The number of community radio stations is currently estimated at more
than 2,000 nationwide - up from 200 one year ago - with over 100 in
the Bangkok area.
The reason for the dramatic increase in numbers was a government
decision last year to allow the stations to air up to six minutes of
advertisements an hour.
A study by the Civic Media Development Institute found that this
change had generated a business worth 10 million dollars a month.
Moreover, because of the legal status of community stations, all this
revenue is tax free. That has prompted many businesses to invest in
community radio. It has also led to a fall in the advertising revenue
of commercial stations.
Legal vacuum
A deputy director-general of the PRD, Pattareeya Sumano, admitted that
the sector was currently operating in a vacuum. "There are no laws and
regulations and no legal authority in charge of the community radio
stations' affairs in our country," she said.
Thailand's 1996 constitution and legislation passed in 2000 paved the
way for the emergence of the community stations. It was stipulated
that 20 per cent of the airwaves should be set aside for them, and
their operations would be regulated by a National Broadcasting
Commission.
However, the establishment of the commission has been subject to long
delays, owing to legal and parliamentary wrangling over the
qualifications of candidates and over the selection process itself. In
the meantime, responsibility for regulation has been batted back and
forth between the PRD, the National Telecommunications Commission and
the Office of the Prime Minister.
The administration of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who came to
power in 2001, has a developed a reputation for being sensitive to
criticism. In its World Press Freedom Review for 2004 the
International Press Institute stated that it would be remembered "as
the year the Thai media has been completely manipulated and used by
the Thaksin government". The IPI cited the example of a number of
radio and TV talk shows that had been taken off the air because of
their criticism of the government.
Web radio closed
One of the stations which sees a political motive behind the
threatened crackdown is Bangkok's FM 92.25. A number of opposition MPs
host programmes on the station and one of its presenters, Anchalee
Paireerak, has gained a reputation as an outspoken critic of
government corruption.
The station has been raided by the police several times in recent
months and has received two warnings about the height of its antenna.
Paireerak told The Nation newspaper that the problem was not really
about the height of the antenna - which was under 30 metres, but on
the 38th floor of the building - but what the station said on its
programmes.
She said that the station had removed the antenna, so that the
government would not have an excuse to close it down. It was also
taking steps to make its programmes available on the internet, and
over 40 community radios had offered to rebroadcast its programmes,
Paireerak said.
On 20 June the station's website was shut down, on the orders of the
Ministry of Information and Communications Technology's Cyber
Inspection Division. The ministry said its content was "detrimental to
national security".
Commercial or community?
An editorial in the Bangkok Post on 26 May backed the government's
actions against offending stations. It said that many stations had
taken advantage of the regulatory vacuum and it was high time that
community radios played by the rules. The editorial noted that many
stations focused more on entertainment programmes than the news and
information output that they were intended to provide.
The situation was put into an historical context by Ubonrat
Siriyuvasak, a writer and university lecturer on communications. In an
article in the Bangkok Post on 28 May she lamented that the "tug of
war to seize the airwaves is getting out of hand".
Siriyuvasak traced the present situation back to the 1970s and
described it as the latest episode "in which the establishment claims
monopolistic ownership rights over radio and television". She said the
Public Relations Department's decision to allow the airing of
commercials was "an open attempt to distort the principles" of
community radio which had left the public confused.
Alongside the original group of some 200 non-profit, non-commercial
community radios had emerged some 2,000 local commercial radios.
Siriyuvasak argued that the government should liberalize the broadcast
media structure and allow these new commercial stations to apply for
frequencies in the 40 per cent of the spectrum allocated to the
private sector by the law.
If the government did not pursue an agenda of reform, she said, it
would show that it was intent on defending the status quo of
"monopoly/oligarchy by a few powerful corporations". Source: BBC
Monitoring research 23 Jun 05 (via DXLD)
** TIBET. RADIO LHASA AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF TIBET
Times of Tibet: The Myth of China's Modernization of Tibet and the
Tibetan Language, Part Two. Includes interesting section on radio
broadcasting. http://tinyurl.com/ba85z (via Andy Sennitt, dxldyg via
DXLD) Entire article fascinating, but viz.:
Tibetans initially called the radio transmitter ``washangding``, from
the Chinese ``wuxiandian``, since it was General Huang Mu-sung`s
condolence mission of 1934, which appears to have brought the first
wireless transmitter to Tibet. When the General returned to China, he
left the radio set in the charge of a certain Mr. Tsang. As the
Tibetans had no other form of wireless transmission (and the Tibetan
telegraph line did not extend to Chamdo), Tsang became a rather
important figure. When the British mission under Basil Gould came in
1936 with more up-to-date radio equipment, Tsang was naturally upset
as his monopoly had ended. He asked the Kashag to confiscate the
British radio transmitter, but the Kashag replied that if they did
that they would, in all fairness, have to take his set as well.
According to Chapman, ``The Chinaman burst into tears.``
It appears that since the Gould mission in 1936 there had been some
considerations of setting up radio communications to enable the
Tibetan government to establish speedy communication with outlying
officials. Matters came to a head in 1942 when it was realized that
Chinese troops from Sining had penetrated into Tibet almost as far as
Nagchukha without Lhasa receiving any news of their movements. That
same year when President Roosevelt`s envoys Captain Illya Tolstoy and
Brooke Dolan visited Lhasa, the Kashag discussed with them its desire
to establish wireless communications throughout Tibet, starting with
radio transmitters in Chamdo, Gartok, Nagchuka, Tsona and Rima.
Subsequently the Tibetan government received three transmitters and
five receivers as a gift from the American government. The British
sold two training sets and battery chargers the same year to Tibet.
Training of Tibetan operators was first undertaken in Lhasa. The
program was later enlarged and improved after the employment of radio
operator Reginald Fox and RAF radio instructor Robert Ford as full-
fledged Tibetan government officials. They trained a number of young
Tibetans and Bhutia (ethnic Tibetan) boys from Darjeeling, Kalimpong
and Sikkim, to serve as radio operators in Lhasa, as well as with the
Tibetan army in Kham.
In 1948, Radio Lhasa started the first of its daily broadcasts to the
outside world. At five p.m., the station would go on air. The news was
read in Tibetan, and then in English by Reginald Fox or by Kyibuk, one
of the surviving Rugby students and an official at the Tibetan Foreign
Bureau. Finally the news was read in Chinese by Phuntsok Tashi Takla,
the Dalai Lama`s brother-in-law. Official announcements were also read
over the radio, as this one prepared by Aufschnaiter:
We have the honour to announce that Radio Lhasa will broadcast an
announcement of the enthronement of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the
ruler of Tibet, together with a proclamation of the Tibetan government
to the Tibetan people and the world, on Friday 17 November 1950, at
5.45 p.m. Indian Standard Time.
Since the mid –thirties, it appears that a number of households in
Lhasa, Shigatse and Gyangtse had short wave radio receivers, the
uncluttered Tibetan atmosphere allowing for clear reception not only
of Radio Lhasa but Peking, Delhi and elsewhere. Some individuals
(George Tsarong, according to Ford) even built their own receivers.
Somewhere along the way the now standard term for radio, lung-trin
(air-communication) seems to have become generally accepted. There are
claims and counterclaims among certain Tibetans as to the origins of
the term, but nothing definite can be established. The term appears in
the 1952 Textbook of Colloquial Tibetan by Roerich and Lhalungpa. From
the mid fifties when the Tibetan resistance and the CIA began to drop
parachute missions and teams into Tibet with radio equipment, the term
lok-trin seems to have been used for radio transmission, with the term
tar-trin also being used as practically all messages were coded and
keyed. Later the Tibetans used high-speed burst transmissions, which
were initially hand-keyed on magnetic tape.
The first public address system and loud-speaker (gyang-drak) was
introduced to Tibet by the 1936 British mission, and appears to have
been used largely for entertainment. At garden parties at the
Dekyilinga, old Tsarong ``cracked jokes`` over the microphone, as his
son George reports. With full Chinese control over the country after
1959, the PA system became a dismally ubiquitous part of Tibetan life,
with loud-speakers on the street corner of nearly every city, town and
village in Tibet. Tibetans were woken up every morning to the blaring
of ``The East is Red``, and for the rest of the day were subjected to
interminable propaganda, much as the people of North Korea are now
(via Andy Sennitt, DXLD)
** U K [and non]. Re: time lag --- For some time I have wondered why
there has been a deafening silence about this, specifically in regard
to the time signal. The whole point of a time signal is that it is
accurate. For me, that means being correct plus or minus a maximum of
one second. (This means that the satellite delay --- even on analogue
signals --- of about a quarter of a second which those listening to
shortwave relay stations have become used to now for 25 years or more,
is acceptable to me.)
But DAB currently fails to meet that standard, and if the analogue
signals are artificially delayed to bring them into line with the DAB
signal, I think it will be pointless to continue broadcasting the
Greenwich Time Signal.
BBC 1 TV got around this problem by dropping the on-screen clock
several years ago. BBC News 24 TV still has a "countdown" to the top
of the hour, but you cannot regard it as being accurate because of
this digital delay.
That brings me to a technical question. BBCWS feeds to overseas relay
stations are now done by digital satellites. Yet when you listen to
those relays, the GTS delay compared to a UK transmission is slight -
certainly not the several seconds of DAB radio. Why? A different type
of digital system? (Chris Greenway, UK, June 22, BDXC-UK via DXLD)
** U S A. AGENCY CHANGES CHINA PLAN
Dateline: WASHINGTON, 06/08/05. In response to a FOIA request from the
Union, the Agency finally released their plan for the Hong Kong
scheme. The plan has been altered from the Agency's earlier
characterizations of it. Now it appears that only two additional
people will be hired and those two will be contractors. They will be
hired and working in Hong Kong. It appears that they will be used
primarily to work on the Agency's English language website. However,
the document also states that " VOA would seek to hire as many U.S.
citizens as possible currently living in Hong Kong." So are they only
seeking to hire two contractors? The Agency has not been forthcoming
about what it really intends to do.
And the question remains as to why these positions need to be in
China. Again, U.S. taxpayers' dollars are being used to create a jobs
for China program. Jobs that could be done right here at home in the
good old U.S.A. If the job could be done here in Washington, D.C. why
are they being offshored to China? Because some prospective applicants
would not want to work overnight hours? AFGE Local 1812 bets that if
the Agency offered these positions here in America plenty of qualified
people would apply, even for overnight hours.
Below is the lone document provided to the Union.
FOURTEEN U.S. SENATORS SUPPORT AMERICANS
Dateline: WASHINGTON, 06/10/05. Fourteen United States Senators,
concerned about the "jobs for China program" sent a letter to Voice of
America Director, David Jackson urging him to:
"cease any plans to outsource these jobs."
Senator Sarbanes took the lead on this issue and was able to enlist
the support of the other signatories. Below is a copy of the letter.
(For more on this issue go to the President's page).
JOBS FOR CHINA PROGRAM HITS `LABOR NOTES`
Dateline: WASHINGTON, 06/15/05. The BBG's scheme to outsource Federal
Jobs to communist China was covered in the June issue of Labor Notes.
Below is a copy of the article.
CHINA OUTSOURCING STORY GETS ADDITIONAL COVERAGE
Dateline: WASHINGTON, 06/22/05. The JOBS FOR CHINA story reached The
Chicago Tribune, FedNews Online, and was a front page story in the
latest issue of the Government Standard. It also made Romenesko's
Media News list on Poynteronline.
Agency officials met with Senate staffers yesterday in an attempt to
convince the fourteen Senators (who had sent a letter to the Agency
urging VOA officials to cease the outsourcing plan) to convince them
that the scheme was a good idea.
Meanwhile, AFGE Local 1812 has learned that the Agency has already
received applications from prospective job seekers in Hong Kong. The
Union has not been able to identify when these positions were
officially advertised. In an interesting twist the Union discovered
that according to David S. Jackson's official Agency Bio he served as
a correspondent for Time magazine in... HONG KONG (all: AFGE Local
1812; see http://www.afge1812.org/ for jpg reproductions referenced,
via DXLD)
** U S A. VOA CORRESPONDENT WINS HUMAN RIGHTS PRESS AWARD | Text of
press release by Voice of America on 22 June
Washington DC, 22 June: Luís Ramírez [hereafter unaccented], Beijing
correspondent for the Voice of America (VOA), has received a Human
Rights Press Award, one of Asia's top annual journalism award
programs.
Ramirez was recognized for his report on the residents of Hanyuan
County in Sichuan Province who were protesting against the Chinese
government's decision to place a hydroelectric dam in their area
without properly compensating the farmers for their land. Ramirez also
reported on the government's crackdown against the protesters. In his
report, Ramirez described how he evaded possible detention and
expulsion by Chinese authorities by slipping past heavily armed
soldiers and police when he went to "catch a glimpse of the gigantic
dam project and the towns and villages that are to be flooded".
The awards are sponsored by Amnesty International Hong Kong, the Hong
Kong Journalists Association and the Foreign Correspondents' Club-Hong
Kong for reporting in Asia. Amnesty International presents the awards
to journalists to recognize excellence in human rights journalism that
has made a significant contribution to the public's greater awareness
and understanding of human rights issues. The competition included a
record number of nominations from news organizations including the
Financial Times, Asian Wall Street Journal, CNN and BBC.
Ramirez, 37, has been VOA's Beijing bureau chief since August 2003. He
formerly served as VOA's West Africa correspondent in Abidjan, Ivory
Coast, where he covered West and Central Africa. Along with providing
news on coup attempts, political assassinations, child labour, and
ethnic and religious unrest, he covered elections in nations including
Ghana, Mali, and Nigeria and was on the scene to bring news of the
difficult return to peace in Sierra Leone.
Ramirez joined VOA in 1999 after spending six years reporting for an
all-news radio station in his hometown of Los Angeles, California,
where he won several awards for his news coverage. Source: Voice of
America press release, Washington, in English 22 Jun 05 (via BBCM via
DXLD)
** U S A. PATTIZ SHOULD STAY --- Norm Pattiz was the prime mover in
the creation of the Arabic-language Radio Sawa and Alhurra television.
But the White House has not renewed his membership of the Broadcasting
Board of Governors. Audience research analyst Kim Andrew Elliott
believes he should stay on the Board. . .
http://www2.rnw.nl/rnw/en/features/media/usa050623.html?view=Standard
(Media Network via DXLD)
** U S A. URGENT: The U.S. Congress is currently considering severe
cuts to funding for public radio and television. Learn what's
happening here http://www.wfcr.org/contribute/threat_faq.php and here
http://www.wgbh.org/generic/federalfundfaq, sign a petition
http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/ and contact your
Representatives http://www.house.gov and Senators
http://www.senate.gov (PublicRadioFan.com via DXLD)
** U S A. PUBLIC BROADCASTERS' TIGHTROPE OVER FUNDS
The New York Times June 23, 2005 By LORNE MANLY
"The Brian Lehrer Show" decided to tackle a topic this week that
could hardly be knottier for its radio station, devoting about an hour
on Monday to the battle over a possible cut in federal funds for
public broadcasters like its own station, WNYC. . .
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/23/arts/television/23publ.html?pagewanted=print
(via Mike Cooper, DXLD)
** U S A. BILL MOYERS: "THE RADICAL RIGHT WING IS VERY CLOSE TO
ACHIEVING A LONGTIME GOAL OF UNDERMINING THE INDEPENDENCE OF PUBLIC
BROADCASTING"
http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=05/06/22/1347234
(Democracy Now Wednesday, June 22nd, 2005, transcript; audio and video
also available; via Current via DXLD)
** U S A. REP. ED MARKEY (D-Mass) CALLS ON KEN TOMLINSON TO RESIGN
FROM CPB AND BBG. The latest in the controversy involving Tomlinson as
chairman of Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Rep. Markey made his
statement at a rally attended by Clifford the Big Red Dog.
http://www.thehill.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/062205/tomlinson.html
(The Hill, 22 June 2005 via kimandrewelliott.com via DXLD)
** U S A. WHITE HOUSE REJECTS CALL TO FIRE PUBLIC BROADCAST HEAD
The White House has rejected Democratic calls to fire the head of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, who is accused by critics of
trying to politicize public television and radio programming. Asked
about a letter from Democratic senators seeking the ouster of
corporation Chairman Kenneth Tomlinson, White House spokesman Scott
McClellan said, "We continue to support him."
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a federally funded
nonprofit and the largest single source of funding for US public
television and radio programming. It is governed by a presidentially
appointed board. The letter said Tomlinson had brought a "political
agenda" to his job. It accused him of "actively undermining,"
underfunding and trying to undo the mission of public broadcasting.
The letter was dated Tuesday and signed by 16 Democratic senators, led
by Sen. Chharles Schumer of New York and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of
California. "We are writing to urge you to call for the removal of the
chairman of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Kenneth
Tomlinson," the letter said.
Tomlinson has faulted the television network PBS, which receives funds
from the corporation, for "liberal advocacy journalism," and has
sought to bring what he says is "balance" to federally funded public
television and radio. Tomlinson is under investigation by the
corporation's own inspector general over some of his activities, such
as a decision to hire outside researchers to gauge whether some public
programs had a bias.
The letter from the Democratic senators also accused him of not
fighting hard enough against efforts by US House of Representatives
lawmakers to make big cuts in the broadcasting corporation's budget.
# posted by Andy @ 09:24 UT June 23 (Media Network blog via DXLD)
** U S A. radio free brattleboro Shut Down By Feds --- 22 June 2005
http://santacruz.indymedia.org/newswire/display/17980/index.php
At 6:58 this morning, June 22, 2005, armed with a warrant issued by a
Burlington magistrate, United States Marshals entered the studios of
radio free brattleboro and seized its broadcasting equipment. The
seizure of equipment and shutdown of rfb's local broadcasts under
authority of a warrant issued in Burlington comes while an action is
still pending before Judge J. Garvan Murtha in the federal court in
Brattleboro [Vermont].
In March of 2004 radio free brattleboro filed for an injunction in the
District Court in Brattleboro, asking the Court to prohibit the FCC
from seizing equipment. The United States District Attorney,
representing the FCC, filed a reciprocal action for injunction to shut
down the radio station. These dueling actions were finally whittled
down to one action and the rfb request for injunction was dropped, due
to the following statement in a filing made by the United States:
In its suit, rfb seeks to enjoin the FCC from seizing its equipment or
from stopping it from broadcasting without a hearing. Because neither
of these eventualities are threatened, the suit is essentially moot.
The FCC has chosen not to try to seize the equipment of rbf but to
proceed by way of a preliminary injunction. Thus, there is no
controversy about imminent seizure of equipment for this Court to
remedy or enjoin. Moreover, since rfb is receiving a hearing on March
15 [2004], it will not be stopped from broadcasting without a hearing.
Thus, the matters that it asks to be remedied do not need a remedy.
This constituted the Government's assurance that it contemplated no
seizure of rfb's equipment and rfb did drop its own action for an
injunction.
In April of 2005, with matters still pending in the U.S. District
Court in Brattleboro, rfb received a letter from the U.S. Attorney' s
office in Burlington stating that the FCC was prepared to pursue other
law enforcement remedies. Rfb was puzzled by this new threat, as it
had dropped its original action for an injunction because of the
Government's assurance that the regular court process in Brattleboro
would be the venue for the dispute. Accordingly, rfb replied to the
U.S. Attorney's office stating:
The radio station has continued operating because the FCC's complaint
to the court has yet to receive a ruling either on the preliminary or
permanent injunctions you [FCC] seek. Your review of the file
doubtless informs you that rfb originally applied for an injunction to
bar the FCC from exactly the action you now contemplate, under 47
U.S.C. 510. The station voluntarily agreed to a dismissal of its
complaint for injunction because of the pending injunction petition
put in by the FCC. In the given posture, I do not believe this
district court or any appeals court will say that rfb was obliged to
shut down: shut-down is precisely the question for which we await the
judge's answer. Your threatened action is, therefore, an end run, is
it not?
On May 3, 2005, the Government filed for summary judgment in the case
pending in Brattleboro. Radio free brattleboro responded to that
motion and therefore the FCC?s case asking for an injunction to shut
down rfb remains, today, in the hands of Judge Murtha in Brattleboro.
Radio free brattleboro's attorney, James Maxwell, commented: "This is
on one level no surprise. The FCC has run out of patience with the
regular court process in Brattleboro and has gone elsewhere for the
relief it seeks, namely, a chance to get the U.S. Marshals into the
station to grab the equipment. Radio free brattleboro has a case with
substantial and legitimate legal issues pending in the federal court
here in Brattleboro, and the station has also applied to the FCC for a
waiver to broadcast, and it has repeatedly stated that when the newly
licensed 100-watt station is up and running it would step aside. Rfb
does not operate in defiance of government but rather from the belief
of its members and listeners that community radio is essential to good
government and democratic process. Radio free brattleboro has always
stressed to the public and to the FCC that it will adhere to FCC
guidelines and will serve the public whether licensed or not."
Nevertheless, it is very much a surprise that the FCC has done an end
run around the court here in Brattleboro and obtained a warrant from
Burlington even while diverting our attention by applying for summary
judgment here. It has undertaken these clever maneuvers, in my
opinion, not because it must shut down the station but because it can
shut down thestation. For there is no harm whatsoever being done by
rfb, while there surely is harm being done to a civil society by the
broadcast and cable and satellite conglomerates whose idea of serving
the public is to process entertainment, information and advertisements
for mass consumption, which is to say for no one at all. It's a sad
and disappointing day, but of course we will explore our options (via
Mike Terry, dxldyg via DXLD) See: http://www.rfb.fm/ (Paul Demsky,
Newport Center VT, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** U S A. There are two licensed 87.9 FMs: KSFH Mountain View CA and
K200AA Sun Valley NV. KSFH is 10 watts at 75 meters below average
terrain, K200AA is 34 watts, with a CP for 28 watts and a site change
(Scott Fybush, WTFDA via DXLD)
** U S A. UPGRADE [sic] BY KSL CHANGES FOR WHOM THE BELL TOLLS
By Lynn Arave. Deseret Morning News
http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,600142015,00.html
In case you haven't noticed, the Nauvoo Bell tolls no more for KSL
Radio. Nauvoo Bell at Temple Square. [caption] Ravell Call, Deseret
Morning News
The signature "clang" that originated live from Temple Square for the
West's 50,000-watt station has been silenced --- at least for the near
future --- by the move by KSL (AM-1160) to become Utah's first radio
station to convert to a digital signal.
Digital, or high-definition, radio is the rough equivalent of HDTV,
and the switch to this higher quality signal is not without
repercussions in both the AM and FM radio worlds.
Perhaps the biggest is a seven-second delay from the point of origin
to a radio listener's ear. Hence, the need to quit using the bell,
which marked each hour, precisely on the hour, with a clang.
KSL Radio engineer John Dehnel said the Nauvoo Bell hasn't sounded on
the air since KSL switched to the digital signal about the middle of
May.
"The way digital radio works, it's much like an Internet stream," he
said. "There's a delay."
Rod Arquette, KSL Radio vice president of programming and operations,
said the loss of the bell isn't set in stone. A way still might be
found to bring it back.
KSL first considered keeping the chime live, with the seven-second
delay. "Those setting their clocks by the radio would be seven seconds
off," Dehnel said. Also, the chime would interrupt announcers.
Next, KSL considered using a recording of the bell at the proper time.
However, that caused programming and timing issues, too. Listeners
might also be confused, because the bell would ring seven seconds
before the CBS News broadcast started --- instead of as it always has
at the beginning.
The simplest solution was to stop the chime altogether. The 1,500-
pound Nauvoo Bell, located just southwest of the Tabernacle on Temple
Square, will continue to chime live on the hour there, just not on the
radio.
KSL's many sister stations, as well as KBYU, KRCL and KUER and others,
are making similar plans to convert to HD radio.
TV sports coverage already has a signal delay of about four seconds.
But unless the digital radio issue is resolved, you'll find sports
fans in stadiums this fall trying to enjoy play-by-play radio
broadcasts with a delay of seven seconds between action on the field
and what they're hearing from their radios.
DJs and radio reporters are also having to wrestle with new time-delay
issues as they do remote broadcasts.
Arquette stressed that digital radio is well worth the hassle.
"Digital radio will take AM radio to a new level. . . . It will blow
you away," he said, explaining AM will sound like FM does now and FM
will move even higher to a CD quality level.
Although KSL began as Utah's first radio station on May 6, 1922, the
Nauvoo Bell chime broadcast wasn't added until decades later ---
probably in the 1960s. "I've had quite a few calls and e-mails from
people who miss the bell chime," Dehnel said (via Tony Simon, ABDX via
DXLD)
I'd sure hate to be trying to do a remote and wearing headphones
plugged into a walkman tuned into the station. I guess that takes care
of THAT. No more of that kind of broadcasting. And to think John
Dehnel said he really hoped he'd be retired by the time KSL made the
decision to go digital because he didn't want to mess with it. It
really sucks so badly. You start hearing the interference at 1130,
1140 and 1150 are completely wiped out. 1160 has a low hiss behind it
at all times. Then 1170 and 1180 are totally wiped out, with some
interference notable at 1190. This is the closest bout with IBAC I've
ever had --- and as close as it'll get to me. It majorly sucks
(Michael J. Richard, WY, ibid.)
** U S A. Saw this in today's Minneapolis Star-Tribune Although it
concerns FM, I wonder if it won't be applied to AM also ---
KSJN-FM BEGAN BROADCASTING MORE THAN JUST CLASSICAL MUSIC ON TUESDAY.
With the right radio equipment, you can pick up three formats on the
99.5-FM channel -- classical, talk and world music -- as the Minnesota
Public Radio (MPR) outlet became the first station in the Twin Cities
to "multicast," a digital technique that allows more than one format
to be broadcast over a single radio frequency.
"You're listening to the future," said MPR President Bill Kling as he
demonstrated KSJN's new capacity.
Right now, the two additional formats are simply single programs
played over and over for demonstration purposes. However, Kling said,
executives are already thinking about formats they can add to all
three MPR stations in the Twin Cities, KSJN, KNOW (91.1 FM) and KCMP
(89.3 FM).
Although those formats might be finalized sometime this fall, it's
doubtful they'll be launched soon.
Currently, few Twin Cities residents own digital radio receivers, the
only devices that can pick up the multicasts. The devices cost about
$300 for the home version and from $600 to $5,000 for a car system.
The devices are so rare that Best Buy doesn't even carry them, said
spokesman Brian Lucas.
"We probably won't have them for another year, if ever," Lucas said.
"We try to carry the latest and greatest cutting-edge products. But
you'd have to be a very early adapter to seek these out."
(via Rick Turner, Bemidji MN, 47d 29m 44.833s N, 94d 52m 46.542s W NRC
AM via DXLD)
** VENEZUELA. Es una gran alegría volver a reportar para ustedes la
señal del Observatorio Cajigal (YVTO) reactivada en su frecuencia de
5000 kHz; la estoy escuchando muy bien y sin el ruido de fondo con la
cual la venía reportando. Escuchar esta señal me ha hecho sentir muy
bien (José Elías Díaz Gómez, 0320 UT June 23, Noticias DX via DXLD)
5000, Observatorio Naval Cagigal, 0451, 23-06, Señales horarias,
"Observatorio Naval Cagigal, Caracas, Venezuela, al oir el tono serán
las 0 horas, 51 minutos, 0 segundos". 34333 (Manuel Méndez, Lugo,
Spain, Grundig Satellit 500, antena de cable, 10 metros, Escuchas
realizadas en Friol, 27 Km. W de Lugo, DX LISTENING DIGEST)
** VENEZUELA. Sin lugar a dudas que las condiciones atmosféricas,
luego de lluvias débiles caídas en la tarde y la noche nublada y fría
están haciendo que escuché algunos armónicos que tenía tiempo no oía.
En los 3180 kHz estoy escuchando a Radio Anzoátegui 1210 AM,
correspondiendo al armonico 2.63 de su frecuencia nominal, al menos es
la que más se acerca. Un abrazo para todos (José Elías, Venezuela,
Noticias DX via DXLD) There is no such thing as a 2.63x harmonic! Must
be some other explanation; maybe a station on 1590 relaying 1210 (gh)
A las 0305 UT estoy escuchando por los 2620 kHz a Radio Nacional de
Venezuela, correspondiente al segundo armónico de la frecuencia 1310;
creo que es la primera vez que la estoy escuchando tan bien en este
armónico. La noche está bastante fría y el tiempo bastante nublado
(José Elías, ibid.)
** ZIMBABWE [non]. SW Radio Africa heard signing on at 1700 on 15145,
though weak due to solar storm. 23 June 2005 (Steve Lare, Holland, MI,
USA, DX LISTENING DIGEST) Shhh, their website still says MW only (gh)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DRM
+++
DRM PRESSES ON
http://futureofradio.typepad.com/the_future_of_radio/2005/06/drm_presses_on.html
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) is a digital broadcasting system that,
unlike IBOC/HD, is "open" and non-proprietary. It's being touted as
the future of AM, FM, and even shortwave broadcasting----regardless of
whether consumers want it or not (shades of the EU Constitution!).
Regardless, tests of the DRM system continue:
http://www.rwonline.com/reference-room/iboc/03_rwf_drm.shtml
The main problem with DRM, like IBOC/HD, is that it depends upon
terrestrial transmitters to deliver digital services. XM and Sirius
have both made a compelling case that satellites are the best way to
deliver a large number of new digital audio services over a wide area,
and that consumers will pay for the hardware and subscription fees if
the programming is worth it. And the emphasis on DRM for shortwave is
more than a little bizarre. Shortwave broadcasting has been in a
drastic decline over the last decade --- if you doubt that, compare
the number of active shortwave stations, especially in the Third
World, found in a 1995 edition of Passport to World Band Radio or
World Radio-TV Handbook with the number in the 2005 edition of those
publications. Shortwave will have the same problems --- reliance on a
quirky ionosphere, the need to use different frequencies for day vs.
night reception, the genuinely awful programming found on too many
stations, etc. --- even if DRM is adopted, so it's hard to see how DRM
will be the savior of shortwave broadcasting.
Unlike IBOC/HD, I think DRM has a good chance of being widely adopted,
mainly because it's backed by a lot of state-run broadcasters who can
essentially impose their wishes without regard to audience preferences
and needs. And it does show promise of being a significant improvement
over AM and FM for local broadcasting. But the notion that people in
developed nations will be attracted back to shortwave by DRM, or that
people in the Third World will spend the equivalent of over a month's
income for a DRM shortwave receiver, is pure, unadulterated idiocy
(Harry Helms, http://futureofradio.typepad.com/ June 22 via DXLD)
RADIO EQUIPMENT FORUM
+++++++++++++++++++++
A REALLY, REALLY SCARY WRATHFUL DREAM June 15, 2005
I was having a sweet dream of peace, featuring a number of really nice
people I have known, even a few broadcasters... when all of sudden
this big white horse with a masked rider rode into my private dream
(you can't get rid of some "Guys") and started shouting all sorts of
ridiculous stuff. To be truthful, some of it was so idiotic that I
cannot be certain who was doing the talking, the big white horse or
that gun slinger who was shouting how he had no fear of the dark, as
long as "dark" means local stations "going dark."
Actually, the masked stranger said broadcasters must "thin out the
herd", so I guess it couldn't be the horse, no horse I have ever known
would talk about thinning a herd and they all had a lot more "horse
sense". But, believe it or not, he was speaking about human beings who
are supposed to donate their lifes' work for the benefit of the
industry, meaning for the benefit of Clear Channel, Viacom and the
other big guys including some huge international investment bankers.
And believe it or not, he singled out at the "bottom of the food
chain," RELIGIOUS BROADCASTERS. What's this all about? Are we supposed
to sacrifice stations that teach morals and ethics, not to steal from
your neighbors, etc.? It cannot be a question of commercial-free
stations. He didn't mention NPR, not in my dream. Is this an ultra
liberal plot to get rid of Rush Limbaugh and the rest of "talk radio?"
And did anyone tell ABC and FOX??
(Let me interrupt this dream with a question. The WRATH needs FACTS:
Is the report true that all American taxpayers pay into a special fund
for NPR`s huge purchases of iBOC transmission equipment creating
severe interference to FREE RADIO and making a windfall for the major
iBOC supporting manufacturers? Can you please get us the facts and
figures, so that if it is true, we can do something about it before
the entire AM and FM bands are wrecked.)
Back to my dream. I think we have to form a posse and round up the
lone stranger. After all he is part of a group that is attempting to
pull a Reverse Robin Hood, rob from the weak to fatten the rich. Lets
leave the horse out of it. No one likes a horse in a courtroom. They
have such drastic ways of objecting.
Now let me stop boring you with my dreams and get back to the main
purpose of this website, comparing the iBOC System with our Cam-DTM
System.
I truly, truly believe that there is only one LEGAL IBOC system, the
Cam-D System that you can use legally night and day because:
a) It does not increase interference, IT REDUCES Interference,
b) It works NIGHT and day,
c) It does not reduce coverage; it INCREASES it, DOUBLES coverage
according to on-the-air reports, and
d) It improves your sound with the 800 Million radios Americans own
and rely upon for "talk radio" and all other formats Americans choose
to listen to 24/7.
Now let me offer my really, really biased opinion of the AM iBOC plan
to "Rescue" AM Radio: I, believe that the supporters of the iBOC
overall plan will divide AM broadcasters and will cause warfare
between Local Radio Stations and Large Stations that presently serve
huge areas at night This is a strategy that can never succeed.
The Public demands both types of service; Local for high school
sports, and traffic and even local commercials. At night rural areas
and those driving long distances demand their clear channels to keep
them informed and awake during those long, lonely nights. The Public
surely will never accept AM technology that destroys their full use of
the almost BILLION radios they bought with their hard earned money.
It will never happen, the Courts, the FCC, our treaties and our
American political system will never permit it.
Hopefully, next months WRATH will offer a technical evaluation of iBOC
and why it can NEVER work at night.
If you want to check the accuracy of my dream facts and opinions check
out RW`s website and the latest print issue of RW, you know that I
love promoting RW.
And as usual I, Leonard R. Kahn, hoping to see more broadcasters in my
sweet dreams of a bright AM future, truly believe that the above
stated facts and opinions and dreams are accurate and not meant to
mislead (from http://www.wrathofkahn.org/ where there is emphasis by
color and italics, via DXLD) ###